Smyrna times., 1887-03-23
For the Smyrna Times
Letter from Miss Ella F. Swinney
SHANGuI China Dec IL 1886

'
down into two narrow valleys we had
ride of marvellous beauty, with the
tarraces of lice in every direction like
waving fields of wheat. On first going
out there was to be heard far and near
the sound of gongs and musical inslru.
ments of various kinds, such AS the
chinese use when one of their number
dies. We thought little of it, but on
returning two or three hours later, the
same sounds were continued along the
brow of the hill and about our ward.
We then learned that the chief man in
| the village of Kien Tsok near us was
| quite ill, and it was said an evil spirit
! possessed him. The family had called
in the priests at the temple, who said
for such and such a price they could
drive the spirit out of him.
They commenced Immediately with
their entertainments and Instruments of
music, and towards evening declared
the evil spirit had left him and gone
out into the yard. They then increas-
ed the noise, the din sounding much
like the beating of tin pans, and moved
about in different directions hoping to
drive it entirely away. We went to
sleep at night with these dOleful noises
all about us and wakened in the morn
ing with the same.
We then saw them walking round
about and examining the bamboo grove
belonging TO the mission property but
not enclosed in the yard. 1t Was a ter
race or two below us, a shady nook we
were often pleased to enjoy. Now the
! priest said the evil spirit was lodged in
this beautiful grove of the foreigners.
SO their attention and efforts were
turned in that direction. We were
| quite glad on account OF the excitement
and noise, when these same crafty men
declared that the evil spirit had entire
ly left the neighborhood.
50 the sick man and his family came
out from under their great dread and
fright. If these had been children in a
make believe play, il might not have
been strange. But when we consider
they were men grown to the years of
understanding, and who are wise and
prudent in many other things, it seems
marvellous that the actors could ever
do 50, and that the people could ever
be so blinded by superstition aud fear.
The general health of the people liv-
ing here at this great height above the
level of the sea is much better than
that Of those living in the plains below.
we asked one of the principal men
OF the village one day fit was alwavs
as healthy and he replied, "Sometimes
the people die but not very often"
| | was spared the entreaties of the
sick by the thoughtfulness of the Doc
tors wife in Ningpo giving nv servant
strict orders not to address me bv nv
professional name, which he carefully
observed during the whole time But
toward the close of my stay on the
mountains, when | was greatly i'm
proved, one of the members in the mis-
SION became seriously i'll, and my atten-
/ tons were soon nOised abroad among
the servants. Then the sick came from
great distances, and lived among the
aches and pains of humanity once more.
When taking our walks and entering
their homes to treat them. we took
great pleasure in telling them of the
/ great Physician who could heal the
body and the soul.
One woman from one of these homes
came several times to hear more of him
who loves and can forgive our sins.
Thus the days passed quickly until
nearly all the families had left the hills
and our time came to 90 also.
1t was little after six o'clock Wed.
nesday morning, September 29th. that
Miss ). and myself came down into the
yard and saw the men lifting our goods
upon their shoulders for their long
march down the mountain.
There were two for each of our chairs
two for our trunks aud two for our
bedding. making twelve, and four 9th
ers for carrying smaller articles and
bedding of our servants.
We were well wrapped up this chilly
morning, having suffered much the
last three weeks with the cold noun.
tain air.
Our chairs first passed out of the
yard followed by the train of men. and
as we were the last company leaving
the mission property, the watchmnn
iocked the front gate after u until
another season should bring the for
elgers. To this cool retreat again. We
went down and swept along the edge
OF one of the terraces around the head
OF this little valley in front of the build
lngs along gap, then down into an
other and another valley unto the first
resting house or shed.
The morning air was fresh and cold
the dew laden flowers and ferns were
all about our path, cascades and water
falls were dashing down here and there
while the peaks all about us rose higher
and higher as we decended from one
valley TO another, causing our hearts
10 overflow with praise to the Creator
who made these beautiful places also
with thanksgiving to our Heavenly
Father for our many blessings and re-
stored health and with many expressed
ana silent prayers for the speedy com
ing OF the time when the idols shall be
cast away, and these beautiful hills.
and indeed all China, shall resound
with the praise Of the one true God.
After many rides and walks through
various scenes, we turned a sharD rock
and came down suddenly to the edpe
OF wide stream just below a falls.
where we overlook the companies of
the previous day bringing down the
cattle that had been taken uD to supDlv
the need of the foreigners. While we
were waiting for our chairs to be safely
slowed in the ferry boat, ! noticed on
the other side the man in leading the
donkey used by the children on the
hills had a hard time to get il To climb
up the stone steps from the wotcr's
edge to mount the opposite hill It
would go up dozen steps or more.
then following its natural propensitv,
refused to move. The man would then
return II to the cold water. letting il
stand there until it was willing to
make another attempt. We were fer
RED over then, stepping upon the stone
steps assembled the winding path to a
high prOmOntOry, and looked down
upon the ferry directly below us. Here
the foolish Chinamen were attemDting
TO drive the cattle into the stream but
iailing so many times, a happy thought
came to them to use their better iudg-
ment, when seizing the calves and
placing them in the boat, the mother
love prompted the cows to immediately
plunge in and swim after them.
A short rest with one more mile down.
and we finished the mountain, then a
| short ride through cultivated fields
where the heat was oppressive, and we
entered the town of Da Tsian about
half past nine o'clock. Going directly
to the home of the preacher at this sta
tion, we were shown into the guest
room up stairs. Having gone over the
items of the burden-bearers and settled
their bill, we inquired after the preach
ers wife whom we remembered so well
on our previous journey. We were